FR901228 in Treating Patients With Refractory or Progressive Small Cell Lung Cancer or Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: --Disease Characteristics-- Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary extensive stage small cell or unresectable non-small cell lung cancer Must have received or refused prior platinum-based chemotherapy and exhibited refractory or progressive disease Tumor must be accessible to biopsy by bronchoscopic or percutaneous fine needle aspiration technique Measurable disease outside of irradiated field or documented progression since irradiation Extrathoracic metastases allowed No active intracranial or leptomeningeal metastases Prior surgical resection or radiotherapy for intracranial metastatic disease allowed if: No evidence of active disease on 2 MRI scans AND No requirement for anticonvulsant medications or steroids to control residual symptoms --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Biologic therapy: At least 30 days since prior biologic therapy and recovered Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, including nitrosoureas or mitomycin, and recovered No prior FR901228 No prior doxorubicin of total dose greater than 450 mg/m2 Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 30 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the lung or mediastinum Surgery: See Disease Characteristics --Patient Characteristics-- Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/…